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Educating for War: Militarization and the Manufacturing of Consent Through Public Schooling

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The Palgrave International Handbook of School Discipline, Surveillance, and Social Control

Abstract

In this chapter, Johnson outlines how neoliberal ideology and a culture of fear facilitate the militarization of public education in the United States across education policies, programs, and institutions. Johnson argues that these twin forces, neoliberalism and fear, work together to produce consent to militarized normal and permanent war. However, Johnson argues, even though public schools in the United States are locations for intense militarization, nationalism, and obedience, they are also vital spaces for resisting militarization as public education is the cornerstone of a critically conscious citizenry and democracy.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    As is the case with former US Secretary of Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano, who was named the president of the University of California system without any prior experience in education in 2013.

  2. 2.

    NYCLU: http://www.nyclu.org/milrec/jamrs; NNOMY: https://nnomy.org/index.php/military-in-our-schools/jamrs-32328

  3. 3.

    Indeed many militarized governmental agencies that focus on national security have websites aimed at children complete with cartoon characters, games, educational resources, videos, and even coloring books. For example, the NSA has CryptoKids where children can follow cartoon animals and learn to break code; National Reconnaissance Organization (NROJr) focuses on teaching kids about satellites. The National Counterrerrorism Center, CIA, FBI, and Department of Homeland Security all have “Kids’ Zone” webpages.

  4. 4.

    See Carr and Porfilio (2012); Salomon and Cairns (2010); Trifonas and Wright (2010) for examples and discussions of peace education.

  5. 5.

    Magnet schools are public schools that are designed to attract a diverse student body by offering unique programs and instruction such as fine arts, science, or world languages. Students attend the schools through an application process, which varies by school district.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago, IL, USA

    Brooke Johnson

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  1. Brooke Johnson
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  1. School of Law, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom

    Jo Deakin

  2. Department of Sociology, City, University of London, London, United Kingdom

    Emmeline Taylor

  3. Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice, University of Delaware, Newark, USA

    Aaron Kupchik

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Johnson, B. (2018). Educating for War: Militarization and the Manufacturing of Consent Through Public Schooling. In: Deakin, J., Taylor, E., Kupchik, A. (eds) The Palgrave International Handbook of School Discipline, Surveillance, and Social Control. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-71559-9_4

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